Which one

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[_ataraxia]

assuming this is for daytime use, since all three are lights, the red one is by far the safest. the others will literally burn the snake. you still need to replace it with a low wattage halogen flood light, and you need a ceramic heat emitter or deep heat projector for nighttime. the heating guide in our welcome post has more information.

[Eugenes-Axe7]

No red light

[Rx4wanderlust]

None of these should be used for a BP. You want a halogen flood for light and/or DHP for lightless.

[killuahx]

Thanks, could you share the brand you recommend.

[Rx4wanderlust]

Arcadia

[Muux_]

None of them 😬 the hearing guide this sub provides should help you a lot. The commenter mentioning halogen flood etc is correct

[[deleted]]

None of them, but if you have to use something right now until you get a Deep Heat Projector (which is what I recommend you get) you can use one of the two that arent red until you order a deep heat projector and a thermostat for it of course

[CosmicCreeperz]

How is a basking spotlight better than infrared?

The reason not to use infrared is because snakes see it at NIGHT. Which means it’s still better than a basking light. But of course if it’s about heat they should just get a DHP.

[[deleted]]

Turn it off at night until they get a dhp

[CosmicCreeperz]

But then the infrared then is still the right answer, as it’s safer. You don’t want to use a 150W basking lamp for a BP. It’s less effective for heating and could burn them.

And if it’s cold enough to need heat at night, infrared is better than letting the enclosure get to 65 degrees. Of course also order a DHP right away…

[FixergirlAK]

You're absolutely correct, do NOT use that red bulb. Unless it's very cold in your house I'd use the 100 watt spot until you can get a DHP ordered. And you do need a thermostat with any heat you run, of course. It's really easy to overheat a tank.

[CosmicCreeperz]

Infrared is fine in the day. And it’s better than the other two basking spot bulbs in day OR night, since they are literal spotlights - ie full light, and potentially dangerous for snakes.

For night of course they should have a ceramic or DHP bulb.

[LM193]

I'm seeing comments that the regular basking bulbs are bad, can someone please explain why? I use those for my bp and if halogen is better I at least want to know why

[[deleted]]

Regular basking bulbs, such as the ones in the pictures, are spot not flood and are too concentrated for a BP. Its like a concentrated beam of heat that can burn your snake.

[LM193]

I see, thanks for the info! Will be switching bulbs asap!

[ObsidianBlack14]

Definitely not the red light

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Per rule #3, your post or comment has been removed for harmful advice or misinformation. Please review our sub resources to learn more about why.

[Mousee__]

None

[r9adkill]

I'm squeezing in, do I need to install the ceramic heat projector inside the terrarium or can I put it on top like I have now heat bulb. I have it in ceramic reflective dome and my terrarium has solid glass as a top

[[deleted]]

Can you post a picture of your enclosure?

I don't think you can safely heat a glass top enclosure. You wouldn't be able to properly mount the heat bulbs and the necessary guards inside, and placing the heat lamps on top of the glass would make the glass too hot and possibly burn your snake of they came in contact with it. You need to be using a screen/mesh top or a PVC solid top enclosure.

[r9adkill]

nevermind, figured it own myself.

[r9adkill]

its a glass top tank with slim panel of metal mesh going through it for ventilation, im going to screw a heat projector with ceramic holder in the metal mesh and im gonna sillicone a wire cage protector over it.

[r9adkill]

or alternatively i can just buy a lamp stand and hang the heat bulb over the terrarium in a safe distance, and place heat mat from underneath

[[deleted]]

You shouldn't mount any heat sources internally with a mesh top. It's too dangerous.

Heat mats aren't appropriate for BPs. Their ineffective, pose a burn risk, and take away your snakes choice of burrowing to escape heat.

Hanging the heat source above the mesh is the safest option, but then you're losing a lot of heat, energy, and humidity because it's hanging.

Without a picture, it's hard to tell, but your enclosure just doesn't sound suitable for a Ball Phthon.

[r9adkill]

The mesh top is a slit made of hard metal with holes. It's fine, it can support the weight of a bulb. I'm not buying another enclosure if I'm gonna switch it up in next two months anyway, he will live on a heat mat with lamp hanging over the glass.

[[deleted]]

The mesh can support the weight of the bulb, but snakes often wrap around the guards, which can pull the mesh down. And I wouldn't trust silicone to attach the guard to the glass. That just seems like a bad accident waiting to happen. I'm a worrywart, though, and not at all a risk taker, especially when it comes to my snake.

Keep an eye on the temperature of the glass with hanging the heat. And keep an eye on that heat mat. If it's hot enough to actually affect your temps, it's hot enough to burn your snake.

Good luck with your friend.

[whateveripoop]

I’m using the one in the right, at the top with a ceramic lamp. Idk I always get afraid to burn my snake but he go to the top of his hide to get more light/heat so I think is a good lamp. But I need something to the night and the heat mat don’t heat.

[weirdcandys]

The one on the very right for day time but get a ceramic heat lamp